Briton's death in Guatemala 'probably not foul play'

A British woman who went missing in Guatemala died of a blow to the head, a post-mortem examination has found. Catherine Shaw, 23, was reported missing after she left near Lake Atitlan on 5 March.

Her body was found between four and six days after her death, the National Institute of Forensic Sciences of Guatemala told local media, and Guatemalan officials fear that the incident might stem growth in the nation's tourism industry.

However, the Lucie Blackman Trust, which supports British nationals in crisis overseas, said on yesterday that "foul play was probably not involved". Yesterday, the chief executive of the Trust, which has been helping Shaw's family, said speculation that she was raped and murdered was "incredibly unhelpful, distressing and unnecessary".

Matthew Searle said Shaw had been fasting and she may have passed out or fallen "due to her lack of intake of food and fluid", the BBC reports.